July 2018 is devoted to sharing genealogy tips that are creative, practical, and a little “out of the box.”
Welcome to DAY 27 of the 31 Days of “Out of the Box” Genealogy Tips series! Need to start at the beginning of the series or catch up? Start here.
DAY 27 – Check County Heritage Books
If your ancestors lived in a particular county, make it a priority to search for that county’s heritage book. These volumes are often compiled by local historical or genealogical societies and collect a mix of county history, biographical sketches, photographs, and family narratives. County heritage books can be an unexpectedly rich source of names, dates, migration clues, and context that help place your ancestors in the life of their community.
Start by reading the introduction and historical sections to understand the county’s settlement patterns, waves of migration, and major industries that might have drawn families to the area. That context can give you leads on where your ancestors may have lived before arriving in the county, and provide hints about common origins for groups of settlers.
One of the most useful sections in many county heritage books is the biographical or family sketch portion. These sections frequently feature write-ups contributed by family members, local historians, or descendants. While these sketches often lack formal citations, they can contain first-hand details, family stories, and relationships that may not appear in official records.
Look for contributor information and follow up.
Near the end of each biographical entry or in a contributors’ list, you will often find the name of the person who supplied the information—and sometimes their contact details. Don’t overlook this: the contributor may still have family documents, photographs, oral histories, or leads to other descendants researching the same family. Reaching out to contributors can open new lines of inquiry, clarify details in the sketch, and connect you with people who can validate or expand on the information provided.
When you contact a contributor, be polite and specific. Explain who you are, how you are related (if applicable), and what information you hope to confirm or learn more about. Offer to share copies or transcriptions of records you have found, and ask if they would be willing to share any original materials or recollections. Many contributors are happy to help and enjoy learning that their submissions continue to help other researchers.
Where to Find County Heritage Books
County heritage books are commonly held at county libraries, state archives, and local historical society collections. If you are nearby, visit those institutions and ask a librarian or archivist for the county histories and biographical collections. If you are remote, use a library catalog like WorldCat to locate which libraries hold the book you need, and request it through interlibrary loan. Many larger state or university libraries also digitize portions of their local history collections—check online catalogs and digital collections for searchable copies.
Research tips when using county heritage books:
- Treat unsourced family sketches as useful clues rather than definitive proof; corroborate with records such as censuses, land deeds, probate files, and vital records.
- Look for recurring names, neighbors, and witnesses in sketches that might indicate local connections or extended family networks.
- Pay attention to variant name spellings and ages, which can help reconcile conflicting records.
- Note publication dates—later editions or reprints may include additional corrections or contributors’ updates.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Seek out a county heritage book for an ancestor’s county and read through the historical and biographical sections. Record any names, places, or clues you find and follow up on contributor names or suggested sources. Even when not fully sourced, these books often provide the essential threads that lead to new records and connections in your genealogy research.
Check out previous posts in the 31 Days of Out of the Box Genealogy Tips:
- Day 1 – Volunteer!
- Day 2 – Genealogy Wikis
- Day 3 – Cemetery Research
- Day 4 – Newspaper Society Pages
- Day 5 – Vertical Files
- Day 6 – Religious Periodicals
- Day 7 – Unplug Your Genealogy
- Day 8 – Cultural Periodicals
- Day 9 – Facebook Groups
- Day 10 – DNA Education
- Day 11 – Funeral Records
- Day 12 – Occupational Records
- Day 13 – School Records
- Day 14 – Civil War Veterans Homes
- Day 15 – War of 1812 Pensions
- Day 16 – Twitter Chats
- Day 17 – Mortality Schedules
- Day 18 – Non-population Schedules
- Day 19 – 1890 Census Fragments
- Day 20 – Tax Records
- Day 21 – Private Collections
- Day 22 – WorldCat
- Day 23 – Merchant Records
- Day 24 – Flickr
- Day 25 – Map Collections
- Day 26 – Road Records
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